Capital Facts

‘Toilet scandal’ could devastate budget, more

Published by admin on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 11:17am

There's probably never a good time for a news story about how a source claims you, your wife and your brother-in-law are under federal investigation. But when that report is aired just days before what is likely the most consequential five weeks of your entire governorship, that's definitely not an opportune moment.
Chicago's public radio station WBEZ reported on April 24 that a single law enforcement source claimed Gov. JB Pritkzer, his wife MK and his brother-in-law Thomas Muenster "are under federal criminal investigation."

Busiest, most consequential final month of session coming

Published by admin on Mon, 04/22/2019 - 11:13am

From the looks of things, the fine print of Gov. JB Pritzker's most important legislative priorities should start becoming public not long after state legislators return from spring break on Tuesday April 30th.
Legislators, the governor's office and stakeholders have been negotiating the nuts and bolts of numerous items for weeks and they're just about finished.
So, we'll apparently start to see specific language pop out in public for things like the legalization of cannabis and sports betting.

Illinois House stalls Senate's sexual harassment bill

Published by admin on Mon, 04/15/2019 - 9:24am

Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) spent more than a year holding hearings and overseeing negotiations which eventually produced SB1829, a massive omnibus bill on sexual harassment.

Not all agreeing to Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’ plan, yet

Published by admin on Mon, 04/08/2019 - 10:26am

Freshman Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) was reportedly none too pleased when Think Big Illinois began running TV ads in her district.
Think Big Illinois is the dark money group created to support Gov. JB Pritzker's progressive income tax proposal.
It started running ads in late March in four individual House districts a couple of days after an opposing dark money group called Ideas Illinois targeted the same Democratic House members: Costa Howard, Monica Bristow, Jonathan Carroll and Mary Edly-Allen.

Expect more penalties for move over law violators

Published by admin on Mon, 04/01/2019 - 2:25pm

    About a year ago, I attended a hearing of the Illinois House Judiciary - Criminal Law Committee and watched the Democratic majority vote down one Republican-sponsored criminal penalty enhancement bill after another.
     One would've made recruiting street gang members a Class 4 felony instead of the current Class 3. A bill to prevent child sex offenders from moving within a mile of their victims went down. The Democrats even killed a bill to enhance criminal penalties for anyone who knowingly harmed a police dog.

Really no reason to slow down legalizing pot in Illinois

Published by admin on Wed, 03/27/2019 - 8:00am

 

Should proponents of legalizing cannabis in Illinois be worried about Rep. Marty Moylan's (D-Des Plaines) House resolution?

Will voters trust Pritzker with income tax change?

Published by admin on Mon, 03/18/2019 - 12:59pm

 

A bunch of weak political arguments have been used so far against Gov. JB Pritzker's proposed constitutional amendment for a graduated income tax. But there is a clear path to killing it.

Gov. Pritzker’s graduated tax plan so far is easy to like

Published by admin on Wed, 03/13/2019 - 8:00am

 

Democrats often propose ideas that take forever to explain and are often difficult for the masses to understand. That wasn't the case last week.

Who will help derail anti-business bills?

Published by admin on Mon, 03/04/2019 - 12:59pm

    A lobbyist who works for a business-related organization asked me a question the other day that I've been hearing a lot lately: "Who's going to be the stopper now?"
     What he meant was, who in the legislative process can be counted on these days to help derail bills which are deemed hostile to business interests?

Pritzker budget expansions far outweight cuts

Published by admin on Mon, 02/25/2019 - 10:26am

    Give Gov. JB Pritzker some credit, the man can give a good speech.
     Last week's budget address was well-written and respectful of its audience and effectively used Illinois history to make its points. The governor delivered the address like... well... a governor. Unlike some previous occupants of that office, he didn't try to make himself look better at the General Assembly's expense. He didn't propose totally outrageous revenue or spending ideas that had zero chance of passage.